2025 READER CONTAINER CHALLENGE

Don't get stuck with the same old container combinations year after year.

- Sherri Ribbey

KEY PLANTS

A Caladium Caladium hybrid B Coleus Coleus scutellarioides C New Guinea impatiens Impatiens hawkerii Container is 22 in. tall x 24 in. wide x 60 in. long

If you're on the hunt for some fresh ideas and inspiration, look no further! You'll find a unique collection of reader-designed containers on the following pages. It's a showcase of our readers' creativity and flair. One of them may be just what you need to jump-start your own container creations. Thanks to everyone who entered our 2025 Container Challenge, and congratulations to the three grand prize and six honorable mention winners!

Best Shade Combo

Seth Kilgore, MA

When Seth Kilgore and Susan Dilbert moved into their new home they wanted to add a container along the steps to the back patio to prevent a tumble off the side. So Seth went dumpster diving for lumber scraps to build a 5-foot-long planter box for both sides of the steps. He was even able to find shake shingle siding to match the house! He drilled around 40 ¼-inch holes on either side and down the center of the bottom of the box for drainage and lined it with landscape fabric. It’s hooked up to a drip irrigation system to make watering easy.

Seth and Susan’s pink and chartreuse design includes two coleus varieties, a bicolor caladium and pink impatiens, which are all easy to care for: Just pinch the coleus back if they get too tall so they stay in proportion with the rest of the planting.

Best Porch Container

Nicole Miksa, CT

This handsome container fits the space in front of Nicole's tall porch perfectly and is tall enough to balance out the height of the towering umbrella plant. In addition, the light color makes a high-contrast backdrop for the draping sweet potato vine and creeping Jenny.